The latest trend in electronics seems to be devices to bring the Internet to television screens. With video streams and downloads expected to be the future of the movie-rental industry, both Apple and Netflix have released consumer boxes to get the revolution rolling. Now, a new box is on its way that will bring even more Web content to home HDTVs.
Startup Company ZeeVee Inc. will release the ZvBox™ on June 30th. Unlike other boxes currently on the market, ZvBox is not focused on promoting a specific service - like iTunes or Netflix. Instead, the ZvBox is designed to bring the entire Internet to TV screens. With the device, any content that can be found on the Web can be viewed on an HDTV. The box works by connecting to the monitor output of a computer and turning it into a new high-definition TV channel (called Zv) that can be viewed on all the cable-receiving TVs in a household. This breakthrough broadcasting method is called “localcasting” and it uses the tuners embedded in HDTVs and a home’s existing cable wiring.
By using localcasting, ZeeVee boasts that users will receive a number of benefits they can’t get anywhere else. First and foremost, users aren’t required to pay any subscription fees or download costs. Once a person buys the box, he or she can get any content from the Web to a TV screen for free. Users also get the same HD resolution of a computer screen, and content can be watched on multiple TVs in a house – not just ones with boxes connected. This feature enables users to start a show on one TV and finish it on another. The ZvBox also comes with the ZvRemote™, which has a touchpad to control a computer’s mouse from up to 150 feet away. And, in August, ZeeVee will release the ZvKeyboard™, which will give users even more control.
With movie downloads beginning to gain momentum, the ZvBox provides users with a means of watching free movies and TV shows (some in HD) available on sites like Hulu or Joost, as well as content from sites like abc.go.com (“Lost” episodes!) and cbs.com, on their TV screens. Individuals can even use ZvBox to watch movies downloaded from iTunes or Netflix on the big screen – since the device can broadcast anything that appears on a computer screen (including applications to check email, play music or watch movies). So, along with its other capabilities, ZvBox can essentially do everything that the Apple TV box and Netflix Player can do as well.
But the ZvBox does come with a hefty price tag: $500. And, technically, users could get the same capabilities by simply hooking up a TV as a computer monitor using an HDMI cable. But, if a TV and computer are far apart, that may not always be a feasible option. Plus, ZvBox eliminates the running wires and offers the added benefit of broadcasting content to multiple TVs. Ultimately, like a lot new technology, ZvBox is a very cool gadget to own if price is not an issue.
The ZvBox (with remote) is currently available for pre-order exclusively at amazon.com for $499.99.
